A PROPOSAL to relocate GP services to a private health care facility in south Belfast appear to have been shelved.
There had been speculation that some GP surgeries could move to a multi-million pound health hub at the former Kings Hall site.
Work began on the vacant site in 2019 and the project is expected to be completed by 2024.
However, it appears that no GP surgeries have yet to agree to relocate to the Kings Hall Health and Wellbeing Park.
Dr Michael McKenna, chair of the Northern Ireland local medical committee, said the costs involved were one of the main reasons why surgeries had decided against the move.
The health and wellbeing park, costing an estimated £100 million, will feature health, community and leisure facilities, as well as a hotel, restaurants, care home and a gym.
Benmore Octopus, the developer behind the wider King's Hall project, has previously said it will be "the most innovative health and wellbeing hub in the UK".
In June 2021, life sciences firm Dataworks opened its doors on the site, while Kingsbridge, the north's largest private healthcare provider has also been confirmed as a tenant and will open a new hospital at King's Hall to house a new diagnostic and treatment centre.
Other tenants confirmed include SpaMedica and Diaceutics with apartments also already built.
In 2018 there had been speculation that GP surgeries would relocate to the Upper Lisburn Road site.
At the time, Elmwood Medical Practice, one of the busiest GP surgeries in Belfast, previously moved to distance itself from the King's Hall project.
It said it had "no plans to move to the Kings Hall complex" from its base in Dunluce health centre.
There had also been speculation that the Irwin Practice, which is based on Finaghy Road South, could be among the surgeries to consider the move.
However, it also now appears unlikely.
Dr McKenna last night said: "There are two issues for surgeries, firstly they didn't like the offer regarding rental cost.
"And secondly why move GP surgeries to an area that perhaps need it least - where it is placed would essentially be moving services from a less deprived area to quite an affluent area.
"I think the idea was looked at, but it was not in their interest, mainly because the costs didn't stack up.
"The costs involved made it less attractive for the GPs to move."
A spokesman for Benmore Octopus last night said that "in terms of the Kings Hall itself, Kings Hall Commercial, the developer, is in the process of securing a new commercial tenant/s for the building.
"It’s still looking at a range of occupiers for the Kings Hall, which could potentially include the relocation of local GP services."
Irwin Practice had last night not responded to a request for comment.
